September 8th, 2024
Analysis of Rich House, Poor House
This reality TV show has been an exception to the usual selection that the mainstream channels nowadays have to provide. Notably, it is not a refreshing exception as a show format. Reality TV very rarely is. The thing is, this show has managed to capture my interest for the sheer entertainment value that money spending and lifestyle habits that people have provide.
For those that are unfamiliar with the concept, Rich House, Poor House started first in the UK and has as far as I know spread out to other countries as well. The concept is rather simple: two households swap their lives for one week. One of the households is poor, with little or even no regular income, struggling to make ends meet, whereas the other one is what could be considered rich or at least very well-off. The show then goes on to introduce the rich and the poor living in the shoes of the other household in all different aspects of life such as living, eating, and enjoying their hobbies.
For some reason I have yet to figure out, people nowadays are encouraged not to resort to believing in stereotypes. I am unsure whether one of the goals of the show was to erase or to dim stereotypes people have of the rich and the poor, but for me the show has actually managed to strengthen the stereotypical pictures I have in my mind of the rich and the poor people. In fact, the rich and the poor families and households that differ from those typical stereotypes we hold seem to be an exception to the rule.
The typical way a rich household in this show has amassed their wealth has been via a clever, sturdy, and innovative business idea, or alternatively they have inherited almost all of it. Most of the people portrayed lead a seemingly good life involving some kind of work, whether it be entrepreneurship, consulting, or voluntary charity. Apart from a few exceptions, they have a nice house, a fancy car, and at least one somewhat expensive hobby. Usually, they also seem to be both physically and mentally in good health.
The poor are either working a low-paying job or are completely unemployed, and their living conditions reflect their situation. They live in a not-so-fancy house, may not even have a car, and have hobbies which require no money at all. Typically, they are also in a rather bad shape both physically as well as mentally. The poor people in the show seem to also have more children than the rich, even though curiously both the rich and the poor quite often have pets.
It is, however, the way which people spend money that makes the show a fascinating one. As for the rich, most of them have clearly become rich for a reason. They really have it all quite well together. Even though some of their lifestyle choices are obviously a result of them being well-off, they mostly do not spend their money on stupid stuff. They do take care of themselves physically, mentally, socially, and financially. As always, there are a few exceptions, of course, but even that has been fascinating to watch. I am quite certain that some of those rich people who become rich overnight due to an inheritance, for example, will not stay that way for the rest of their lives. Instead, they will make sure that their habits of spending money on stupid stuff will eventually wreck them. That is also why wealth itself means nothing unless you have the wits and the education to take advantage of it.
As for the poor, yet again, apart from a few exceptions, these people will most definitely stay poor for the rest of their lives. Even if money flew straight into their hands, they would waste it just like the latter examples of some of those rich people we were just talking about. This is because they mostly have no education (and don't mistake me for speaking of formal education and degrees here) nor even the will to climb out of the situation they are in. Granted, some of them are simply too sick for that, but most are not. They have simply given up in their minds. What is particularly sad is that they also are both actively and passively transmitting their train of thought and ways of life to their children as well, who will no doubt most likely end up in the same situation as well in the future.
Even though the rich in the show have in many episodes actually ended up financially supporting the poor, I wouldn't place bet on the poor taking the steps needed to actually help themselves. Even if all the money the rich and the poor in the show was distributed evenly among all the participants, I am quite convinced that after some time had passed, the poor would be poor yet again and most of the rich would be rich.